REGINA — The City of Regina held its annual Ladybug Release event on Thursday.
The event sees city officials, with the help of children in the community, release 200,000 ladybugs in Victoria Park.
“This identifies our commitment to organic and sustainable pest control within the city because ladybugs are natural predators and they like to eat all those nasty aphids that attack our trees,” said Veronica Schroder, co-ordinator, forestry, pest and horticulture at the City of Regina.
Aphids cause damages to plants by sucking their sap, leading to stunted growth, and potentially causing virus transmission
To counter this, Schroder said it’s a good idea to bring a container home full of ladybugs to release in a garden. Ladybugs prey on aphids, and one can eat upwards of 50 per day.
The city itself purchases 200,000 ladybugs yearly out of Ontario from a company that sources the insects from California.
Purchasing these bugs only costs the city $3,500.
“We definitely see it as a benefit to the community," Schroder said.
Along with releasing ladybugs, children could enjoy cookies and various other activities at Victoria Park.
